Audley vs Warumbul, true annual running costs compared 2026
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Audley and Warumbul are both Sutherland rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 26 km and 27.6 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Audley runs $985 a year cheaper than Warumbul, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $11,292.
Over 10 years the gap between these two is about $11,300, about $22 a week, and most of it is the AI-estimated insurance line.
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Warumbul
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Audley | Warumbul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates Official, 2026-27 | $1,617 | $1,617 | - |
| Water & sewerage Official, 2026-27 | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) Modelled, 2026-27 | $6,132 | $6,317 | -$185 |
| Commute (public transport) Modelled, 2026-27 | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance Estimated | $1,850 | $2,650 | -$800 |
| Body corporate (unit) Estimated | $2,100 | $2,100 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,147 | $12,132 | -$985 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,415 | $8,215 | -$800 |
Totals exclude electricity, estimated separately below. Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance estimated from ACCC premium rates; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Audley | Warumbul | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown, Audley vs Warumbul (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Audley and Warumbul differ by $985 a year by car, but $800 of that is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On the sourced costs, council rates, water and the commute, the gap is $185, so neither suburb is named cheaper here.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $800 per year. Warumbul carries high flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $800 per year, $7,415 from Audley versus $8,215 from Warumbul.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,617 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours Audley by $185 a year, $6,132 against $6,317.
- Building insurance favours Audley by $800 a year, $1,850 against $2,650.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Warumbul against low in Audley, which feeds the insurance estimate.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Audley cumulative | Warumbul cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,147 | $12,132 | $985 |
| Year 3 | $34,454 | $37,499 | $3,045 |
| Year 5 | $59,181 | $64,410 | $5,229 |
| Year 10 | $127,788 | $139,080 | $11,292 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Audley or Warumbul cheaper to live in?
Neither is named cheaper. Audley runs $11,147 a year by car and Warumbul $12,132, but most of the $985 difference is the building insurance estimate rather than a published figure. On council rates, water and the commute, which are sourced, the gap is $185. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Audley and Warumbul?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,617 in Audley (Sutherland rates (OLG) and $1,617 in Warumbul (Sutherland rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Audley and $1,548 in Warumbul. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Audley and Warumbul?
Annual driving commute costs are $6,132 from Audley and $6,317 from Warumbul to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Audley and $2,400 from Warumbul.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Audley and Warumbul?
At 3% annual cost growth, Audley costs a cumulative $127,788 and Warumbul costs $139,080 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $11,292 in favour of Audley. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Audley and Warumbul suits you better?
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Sources: Sutherland rates (OLG and Sutherland rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost insurance estimates from ACCC premium rates. Data updated July 2026.